Select Academy Players Participate in Development Academy Nike Friendlies as Part of U.S. National Training Select Teams

NewsDec 3, 2007

CHICAGO (Dec. 1, 2007) – U.S. National Team coaches selected twenty-nine Academy players for two U.S. National Training Select Teams participating in this week’s Development Academy Nike Friendlies. The Under-15/16 National Team Training Select team will be comprised of only Academy players born in 1992 and will be coached by, Keith Fulk. The Under-17/18 National Team Training Select team will be coached by Raul Diaz Arce and be comprised of Academy players born in 1990 and 1991 as well as current Residency players born in 1990.

The two teams were selected from a pool of Academy players from four different conferences who participated in a National Team Training Camp with the U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team in Bradenton, Fla over Thanksgiving weekend. Thirty-one Academy players representing the Northeast, Mid Atlantic, Atlantic and Southwest Conferences joined more than 40 players in U.S. Soccer’s Residency Program to train under the guidance of new head coach Wilmer Cabrera and his staff. In keeping with the Development Academy philosophy of increasing the amount of training for players and reducing the number of games played, the group participated in four training sessions beginning on Thursday afternoon before concluding the camp with small-sided games on Sunday morning.

The Development Academy Nike Friendlies exposes international players, coaches and referees as well as select Development Academy clubs to U.S. Soccer’s educational and event resources. The 2007 Friendlies will feature youth national teams from Russia, Brazil and Turkey, CONCACAF Referees, Caribbean coaches, 46 U.S. Soccer Development Academy youth teams, four U.S. Youth National teams and two U.S. National training teams. In addition to the 81 games occurring over the weekend, U.S. Soccer will provide educational resources to the participating players, coaches and referees in Bradenton, Florida for the four-day event.

With Development Academy Director John Hackworth overseeing the scouting process of all Academy clubs (63 in total), the Academy program is a key component of the U.S. Soccer National Team programs and training camps as it allows U.S. National Team coaches opportunities to scout elite players in their natural environment over an extended period of time.

“We still need to continue to look into different avenues to find players across the U.S. and continue to close those cracks players can slip through,” said Hackworth. “But the Academy is the main place for elite players to play and develop, and therefore we know most of the best players will on average be coming out of this program.”